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 Andy
Cahan is a 35-year veteran of the music industry. As a recording engineer
and record producer, Cahan has worked with such artists as Ringo Starr,
Harry Nilsson, Flo & Eddie and Eric Carman.
 Well,
since our last column, a lot of you have sent in questions and I'm gonna
try to get to as many of them as I can. So here we go.
For the past ten years, I've recorded thousands of demos for various
publishers, singers and songwriters. I've been in the music industry since
1963 and have acquired tons of valuable information I can pass on to you.
If you are on the internet, please check out my website at: http://home.earthlink.net/~snarfel.
That will provide you with all the information about my career in the
music industry. Because of my reputation with production, arrangement and
vocal coaching abilities at these sessions, I have acquired the name
"The Demo Doctor".
In
addition to recording and producing the artists just getting started, I've
also recorded and produced such luminaries as Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson,
Flo & Eddie (The Turtles), Eric Carmen, Jimmy Webb and John Wesley
Harding in my studio.
In
my "question and answer" column coming up in the next issue, I
will tackle some of the basic misconceptions and myths that cloud the demo
business. I will share with you some tips about making better demos,
provide basic down-to-earth advice, will answer all questions and guide
you along the right path to preparing, recording and presenting your demo.
There's a Doctor in the house and I'm ready (24/7) to help.
I
will cover some of the fallacies of making demos--such as how much money
you should spend. You don't have to spend a million bucks in an expensive
studio to achieve your goal. It can be accomplished in your home studio.
Less is more, and by using the basic information covered in this article,
I strongly believe that if you prepare efficiently, and use these simple
techniques, you will come out ahead.
The
accepted industry standard for submission of songs is a three song demo
(demonstration). You should start out with your best song. Don't think
that the delusion of saving the best for last will be more dynamic. Not
true! Usually, that A & R person listening to your tape has several
hundred envelopes of song submissions on the floor next to his desk
waiting to be heard. If your material doesn't knock his socks off in the
first thirty seconds to a minute, he will eject your tape and move on to
the next.
Plan
out your session so you don't waste time and money. Know exactly how the
song goes before you record. Use a step by step procedure beginning with a
typewritten or neatly written lyric sheet. This will be helpful during the
recording, programming and editing processes with respect to marking
locations of verses, choruses and the bridge of your song.
Rehearse
all of the instrumental and vocal parts before you go in to record. This
way you save studio time and should be totally confident and comfortable
with your performance.
Keep
the duration of your song to about three and a half minutes. Make sure the
key of the song fits the vocal range of whoever is singing. Nothing is
worse than having a squeaky voice, straining to hit those high notes, or
running out of breath and hardly hitting those low notes . Avoid long
intros and solos, you're selling the "SONG" not the solo. Try
and get your "HOOK" / "CHORUS" (memorable musical or
instrumental phrase) heard as soon as possible, preferably within the
first thirty seconds to one minute. This procedure will turn out to be
extremely effective in your presentation.
Try
to "animate" the song exactly the way you want it. There are
several requirements that help speed up the process and allow it to flow
smoothly: I suggest that you listen to and study samples from your
favorite CDs and records. Make notes on their arrangements,
instrumentation, rhythms and grooves in their style of music and apply
those to your arrangement in your own original style.
Start
out with the basic chords on a rhythm instrument such as keyboards or
guitar. This will lay a solid foundation for your vocals, bass, drums and
other overdubs. Avoid over-producing your track. Keep it simple. Your
final mix should be clear and uncluttered allowing your vocals to be heard.
What
ever medium you decide to record on, weather it be ADAT, DA-88, hard
drive, analog reel to reel or multi-track cassette, the key is to record
your song as clearly and simply as possible. Be conscious of too much bass
or treble on the overall tracks. And defiantly avoid any distortion in
your recording. Try to keep away from a lot of effects early on. Make sure
you cut everything "FLAT" (all your settings are in the default
position). Save all of your effects and "EQ" (equalization) for
the final mix down, inasmuch as you eventually will run into problems with
frequency levels that can not be corrected, subsequently leaving no room
for adjustment.
When
you are finished with your demo, there are some very simple rules you
should know in presentation. Make sure all of the song titles are listed
in the correct sequence on the tape and the tape box. You must have your
name, address and phone number on all your lyric sheets, tapes and tape
boxes. Nothing is more frustrating to the A & R guy than a tape with
no name! Make your presentation letter concise and to the point. There is
no need to go into your life's history. Just simply explain your
intentions with your songs. Make it clear that you are selling the song
and / or yourself as an artist.
These
are just some of the things I look forward to discussing with you in the
next issue. In this day and age of cutting edge technology, the
competition is overwhelming. But if you stick to your guns and constantly
strive for something original in your music, your chances for success will
be that much greater. Good luck and have fun!
If
you have a question about recording or producing demos, send them in to
the Demo Doctor. If you're on the internet, you can e-mail me at:
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